Fire extinguisher



G. T. PEARSONS FIRE EXTINGUISHER May 6, 1924. 1,492,934

Filed Aug. 5, 1919 Patented May 6, 1924.

GEORGE '1. PEARsoNs, on NEW YoR'K, 1 1. Y.

. Finn nx'rmeursnna.

Application filed August 5, 1919." 'Serial No. 31 5,5571

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE T. PEARsoNs', a citizen of the United States, and a. resi-' dent of the borough of Manhattan, in the city county, and State of'NeW :York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire Extinguishers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to chemical gas generators particularly adapted for fire extinguishers to create a fluid pressure to place a liquid in a reservoir under compression to expel the same, and it is theprimary object of the invention to improvegenerally the construction of an expelling pressure generator forthis purpose, and to provide a generator which is simple, cheap and novel in construction" is a possibility of particles-of the gas genand arrangement and highly e-fiicient in operation.

The present application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial Patent No. 1,431,179, and for further improvements on the generator disclosed by said application, and it is an object of the invention to provide in a chemical gas generator having a generating chamber means to normally carry gas generating materialsin a separated condition and opento each other and to cause said materialsto mix, said generator having-an outlet which is adapted to be at all times open to the reservoir of the extinguisher.

provide a gas generator of this type in which the gas generating materials comprise an acid and a dry substance, as bicarbonate of soda,-maintained in a separated condition and open to each other in the upright positionof the generator, and which are adapted to mix when the generator is inverted.

In this latter type of generator with the outlet open to the reservoir the liquid in the reservoir is prevented from enteringthe-outlet of the generator in the normal upright position of the geiierator by the equalizing pressure of the air Within the generating chamber, and when inverted the pressure of the escaping gas from the outlet prevents into the generator. This type of generator has. been found to operate satisfactorily in commercial use.

the entrance of the liquid There is neverthelessa possibility of the tire extinguishing liquid in the reservoir enter..-

use with,

ing the outlet of the generator: should the;

extinguisher be-inverted by a slow movem'ent. Sho-uldfanybf the fire extinguishing liquid actiom when the acid'comes in contact with the soda. It' is a further object of the invention to provide apocket or. pockets inthe generating. chamber so arranged as to catch crating materials entraining I with and being discharged by thegenerated gas into thev reservoir and from the: latter withthefire extinguishing liquid, and such generating materials are of such anature asto" de-.

stroy'or ruin; articles with which they may.

It is a further object come in contact.

the invention to overcome the: above disadvantages by providing means in the generator to-balile the H sagetto. the. outlet and thereby. prevent the entrainment and discharge of particles of the'gas generating materialswith the gener- It is a further object of theinvention toated gas; into the reservoir.

Other. objects and. advantages=wil1 herein after. appear. I V v .In the drawings accompanying and form} ing a part ofthis specification, Figure. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a fire extinguisher with an embodiment of my improved chemie In Figure 1 of the drawings I have shown an embodiment-of my invention in connection with a fire extinguisher comprising a reservoir ortankz 5to contain fire-extinguishing-liquid, ,such as carbon tetrachloride.

The reservoir hasian openingQdwith are movable cover7 hav1ng'an outlet 8 arranged enter the generating chamber and come'in contactwiththebicarbonate-0f soda it will deteriorate'the. same-'sothat itwill; benon-reactive, or there will, beia slow re generated gas: in its, paswith a nozzle or coupling 9 for a hose. The fire extinguishing rable when exposed to the atmosphere, an

to seal the liquid in the reservoir from the atmosphere through the discharge outlet 8 and maintain a clear and unobstructed passageway the cover has a central opening with a tubular portion or receptacle in line With the opening projecting into the reservoir, as at 10, and said receptacle has an opening in the bottom. The opening in the cover is closed by a cap or plug 11 having a sleeve 12 to project into the receptacle 10 to adjacent the bottom and of less width than said receptacle. i' A tube 13 having communlcation with the liquid in the reservoir extends through the opening in the bottom of the receptacle 10 and into the sleeve 12 to adjacent the top of the latter. The receptacle 10 is adapted to contain a liquid which is non-evaporable, or practically so, when exposed to the atmosphere, and is impervious to the vapors of the carbon tetrachloride, glycerine having been found to answer the purpose. The open end of the sleeve 12 is immersed in said liquid while the end of the tube 13 will extend beyond the surface of the liquid and thereby effectively seal the liquid in the reservoir from the atmosphere through the outlet 8. The nozzle or coupling 9 may be provided with a valve 14 to shutoff the flow of liquid should a fire be extinguished befor the entire contents of the reservoir has been ejected, but in the normal condition of the extinguisher this valve is open to afford a clear passageway from the interior to the exterior of the reservoir.

To connect the outlet 8 with the liquid in the reservoir near the side and end which is lowermost there is provided a casing 15, which is in the nature of a valve chamber, having ports 16,17 in the ends and having a lateral T portion or trunnion 18 whereby it is rotatably supported upon the tube 13 and arranged to lie adjacent the side of the reservoir, and said trunnion having communication with the tube through ports 19. The casing is retained against endwise movement by one end of the trunnion abutting against the bottom of the pocket or receptacle 10 with a felt washer 2O interposed, and a flange 21 of a member 23 connected to the free end of the tube at the opposite end of the trunnion with a felt washer 22 interposed. The ports 16, 17 are controlled by valve mechanism comprising a disk valve 24: fixed to one end of a rod 25 extending centrally through openings in the ends of the casing, said valve being arranged to co-operate with an annular seat at the end of the casing to close the ports 16. A similar disk valve is connected to the opposite end of the rod 25 to co-operate with a valve seat to close the ports 17. The rod 25 is of greater length than the casing whereby as one valve material is highly evapo-' shown in Figure 1 is seated to close the' 'ports at one end of the casing it will operate to open the ports in the opposite end of the casing, for instance, as when the extinguisher is in upright position the valve 24: will close 7 the ports 16 and the valve 26 will assume position to maintain the ports 17 open.

To connect the casing and thereby the discharge outlet'with the liquid near the side and opposite ends of the reservoir there is 7 connected to each end of the casing a 27,

28 having ports29, 30 in the'end and at the peripheral wall which lies near the side of the reservoir. In the construction shown the parts are so arranged that the cap 29 is 3 at the top of the reservoir and the port in the cap operates to connect the casing with the liquid near said end of the reservoir. To connect the casing with the liquid near the side and opposite end or bottom there is connected to the port 30 a tube 31 with its free end extending to adjacent the bottom of the reservoir.

It Wlll be obvious that as the'reservoir is moved to various positions that the casing with its connected parts will swing around'the tube 13 to assume a position in the reservoir which is lowermost, and that the valves 24;, 26 will operate to close the casing ports 16, 17 which are uppermost thereby at all times connecting the discharge outlet with the liquid and shutting ofl the ex pelling pressure from the outlet.

To create an expelling pressure in the reservoir to discharge the liquid there is provided in the reservoir my improved chemical gas generator, comprising a tubular member 32 or receptable open at one end and having at the closed end a lateral flanged portion 33, shown in Figure 1 as connected to and spaced from the closed end of the tubular member by a tube 34 communicating with a port 35 constituting the outlet of the generator, and the tube having a port or ports 36 to connect the port 35 with the generator. A tubular shell 37 of greater length than the member 32 and closedat' one end engages over and is spaced from the open end of said member 32 and co-opcrates with the flange of the portion 33 to releasably connect them together. The shell is also of greater width or diameter than the member 32 to provide a space between the walls thereof, thus providing a chamber in which the gas is generated and from which it is led to the reservoir through the tube 34. The gas generating materials consist of sulphuric or hydrochloric acid carried in a receptacle or bottle 38 carried in the member 32, and a dry substance, as bicarbonate of soda, carried in the member 32 superposed to the receptacle 38, as shown at 39. To maintain the bicarbonate of soda separated from the acid and the acid in the bottle open to the soda at all times the receptacle has a stopper 40 of a metal which amaess.

lead,-said stopper having ports 41 topermit of the flow ofthe acid from the bottle. A

lead disk 42 is supported upon thestopper, said disk being of slightly jless diameter than the member 32 and arranged to. maintain the stopper ports open and to support the bicarbonate of soda. 'This disk is slidably mounted on a stem or rod43 fixed at one end in thestopper and extending to the top of the shell 37 to retain the acid bottle at the bottom of the member 32 when the. extinguisher and generator are inverted.

The generator is maintained centrally of'the reservoir by loosely engaging in an annular member 44 at the bottom of the reservoir,

and which may consist of. an annular bead.

or rib formed in the reservoir bottom, and is retained in such position when the extinguisher isinverted by the. member 23 engaging with the top. of the generator.

It will be obvious that as the reservoir and generator are inverted that the acid will flow from the bottlethrough the stopper ports andtrickle over the lateral edges of the disk 42 into contact with the bicarbona-te of soda andv generate gas, such gas pressure being suflicient, should the soda have become packed in the upper end of the member 32, to force the soda into the generator chamber and permit of the ready and gradual flow of the acid from the bottle and the mixing thereof with the soda. The

generated gas passes through the tube ports 36, tubeand generator outlet into the reservoir placing the compression.

As the soda and acid come. in contact the generation of gas is by a violent: reaction with the result that particles of the gas.

generating materials may beentrained by the generated gas' and -pass therewith into the reservoir and be discharged with the fire extinguishing liquid. These materials have a deleterious effect on most articles with which they come in contact. To prevent the entrainment of the gas generating materials with the generatedgas 'means are provided between the reacting materials and the outlet of the generator to baffle the generated gas in its passage from the generating chamber to the outlet, and shown as comprising annular fins 45 projecting laterally from the member 32 to adjacent the wall of the shell 37.

It will be noted that the outlet of the generator is at all times open to the reservoir and the gas generating materials open to each other though in'a separated condition in the normal inoperative position of the extinguisher, and that the outlet of the generator is immersedinthe. liquid in the reservoir thereby sealing the generator assuring.

practicallynodeterioration of. the gas generating materials. It has been found that liquid therein under for all .practical commercial purposesithe,

pressure of; the; air in thegenerating chameg bereis suflicient to equalize the pressure'of,

tive,.0r. there-will be aslow reaction, when the acid comes incontactwith-the soda. As there is a possibility that asmall quantity of the liquid mayenter the-outlet of the gener- I ator should thev extinguisher be slowly moved to inverted position to prevent any'such-liquid that; might enter the generating cham: her. from comingin contact with thesoda the generator is provided with pockets arranged to catch and hold such liquid vfreeof the soda and reacting materials inwhateverpositions the extinguisher and generator'may be held. These pockets are located at oppositeends of thegeneratonone of which comprises an-annular fiangeor sleeve-.47 pro: jecting. up. from the portion33and shapedto engage the innerwallof the shell 37 The other. pocket comprises an inverted truncated cone shaped sleeve] 48.with the large end lyingcontiguous and secured to the inner wall of the shell 37 providing an an. nular recess or chamber .49: between-said sleevev and the. shell37. It will be obvious that any liquid which may: enter the. generator outlet when it is inverted will flow to the chamber. or. pocket 49 and will beheld thereiniree of the gas generating materials, and; should the extinguisher and generator be moved toupright position thisliquid is caused'to flow to the pocket formed by the member or. sleeve. 47..- To prevent the gas generatingtmaterials from falling into the pocketv 47 when'the generator is moved to. upright position afterit has beenginverted theupperbaflie 45 is provided with a flange 50 to form a cup in which the smallendof the sleeve 48 extends and will catch and-hold the gas generating materials.

In'the modification shown in Figure 2 the construction is. substantially similarto the construction shown in Figure 1 with the ex ception that instead of the bottom ofthe member. 32' being spaced from the flanged member 33 the bottom of said member 32 is extendedlaterally and flanged, as shown at 52, andhas-outlet ports 53 therein, and withwhich flange the shell 37 co-operates to secure them'together. materials are. carried in the member 32 simi larly as'. shown inFigure: 1. s The sleeve .48 is alsoprovidedto co-operate with the shell to constitute one of the liquid receiving the liquid inthe reservoir thereby prevcnt .ing the entrance of liquid through the gen The gas generating v member 32 and located at some distance above the bottom 52. This pocket 54: also serves as the means to baflie the generated gas and prevent entrainment of the gas generating materials with the generated gas through the outlet. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim;

1. In a chemical gas generator, a generating chamber having an outlet; a receptacle in said chamber to carry gas generating material having an outlet; and means to carry another gas generating material superposed to and maintaining the outlet of the receptacle open for the purpose specified.

2. In a chemical gas generator a generating chamber having an outlet; a tubular member open at one end in said chamber; an

acid carrying receptacle in said member having an outlet; and means to carry another gas generating material in said tubular member superposed to and maintaining the outlet of the receptacle open for the purpose specified.

3. In a chemical gas generator for fire extinguishers, a generating chamber; an acid carrying'receptacle in said chamber having an outlet; means to support another gas gen erating material superposed to the receptacle outlet and maintaining said outlet open and the materials from mixing in the upright position of the generator and permitting the'materials to mix when inverted; and bafiles in the generating chamber for the purpose specified.-

4. In a chemical gas generator for fire extinguishers, a tubular member open at one end, an acid receptacle in said member having an outlet, and means to carry another gas generating material in the tubular member superposed to the outlet of the receptacle and maintaining said outlet open and operable upon the generation of gas to eject the gas generating material from the tubular member which is superposed to the open receptacle therein for the purpose specified.

5. In a chemical gas generator for fire extinguishers, a generating chamber having an outlet and arranged with means to normally carry gas generating materials in a separated'condition and to cause said materials to mix, and pockets in the generating chamber for the purpose specified. 6. In a chemical gas generator for fire extinguishers, a generating chamber having an outlet and arranged with means to normally carry gas generating'materials in a separated inert condition and to permit said materials to mix; battles in the generating chamber to prevent entrainment of the gas generating materials with the generated gas from the outlet of the generating chamber;

and pockets in'the generator for the purpose specified. I

7. In a chemical gas generator for fire tinguishers, a generating chamber having an outlet and arranged with an open end tub-ular member centrally thereof; a receptacle to carry gas generating material in said tubular member having an outlet; means to carry another gas generatlng material in the tubular member superposed to and maintaining the outlet of the receptacle therein open; and bafiies arranged between said tubular member and the outlet for the purpose specified.

8. In a chemical gasgenerator for fire extinguishers, a generating chamber having an outlet and arranged with a tubular member centrally thereof; means in said tubular member to carry gas generating materials in a separated condition and open to each other in one position of the generator and to cause said materials to mix in another position of the generator; means arranged between said tubular member and the outlet of the generating chamber to prevent entrainment of the gas generating materials with the generated gas from the outlet of the generating chamber; and pockets arranged adjacent opposite ends of the generating chamber for the pur pose specified.

9. In a chemical gas generator for fire extinguishers, a generating chamber having an outlet and arranged to carry gas generating materials in a separated condition in the upright position of said chamber and to cause said materials to mix when the chamber is inverted, and pockets in the generating chamber for the purpose specified.

10. In a chemical gas generator for fire extinguishers, a generating chamber having an outlet; means in said chamber to maintain gas generating materials in a separated condition and permit said materials to mix; and bafiles arranged in the generating chamber between the outlet thereof and the reacting gas generating materials when admixed for the purpose specified.

11. In a fire extinguisher, the combination with a liquid carrying container having an outlet, of a gas generator in said container carrying gas generating materials normally held in a separated condition in said container in communication with each other, a chamber adjacentone end normally located above the gas generating materials in the normal inoperative position of the extinguisher, in which the gas generating materials unite to'create pressure when the container is inverted, a chamber adjacent the opposite end of the gas generator to receive the reacting materials when the container is returned to its normal position, and outlet means from said generator having an inlet arranged remote from the reacting gas generating materials in either of said chambers to exclude said reacting materials from the liquid container. v

12. In a fire extinguisher, the combination 5 with a liquid carrying container having an outlet, of a gas generator in said container arranged to carry pressure generating materials normally held 1n a separated condition and having a'chamber adjacent opposite ends, outlet means from said generator having an inlet from a point between said chambers, and means to exclude the reacting pressure generating materials from said outlet means.

GEO. T. PEARSON S. 

